Places in America...

[osuche]

There are places in America that are NOT mainstream, that consistently shock me of their existence.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/08/america/texas.php

What do you think about 400 children and over 100 women who "escaped" with authorities from the polygamist camp? Are you at all surprised that places like this exist in the US?

The thing I wonder is...How did this system go on for so long? There are 2nd and 3rd generation families in the compound!

[Loulabelle]

I hate to say it, but in the UK, it seems that all we ever hear about America are the religious fanatics, the strange and dangerous cults, the shocking gun crimes committed by children etc etc.

I know that it is a minority from an absolutely vast country, but I'm afraid it doesn't shock me at all. I suppose it must be easier for a whole colony of people to exist in a country so big without detection. Very few places in the UK are remote enough for a cult to become as large and as long lived as this.

Having said that, it's absolutely awful and it's shocking that these things continue in the modern world, let alone in a 'civilised' western society. It's terrifying to think that women and girls are being treated like this, and that they've never known anything different.

I wonder where all the boys are and what will be happening to them?

[jseal]

All cultures are equal, but some cultures are more equal than others.

[Lilith]

America takes it's right to practice your chosen religion pretty seriously. I saw an interview that said the authorities had not been able to intervene due to a lack of substantial evidence up to this point but they had watched for years. I am concerned that they have not found the girl who called it in. I fear they may not have a case if they did not follow protocol. Hopefully they have been very careful.

The Mormon Church is a mainstream religion in the US and has been, but this sect that has sprouted out of it has truly soiled the reputation of that institution.

[wyndhy]

^^^ zacly. i'll add the freedom for equal rights is lost when children are endangered and people are held against their will.

[Lilith]

Yes. Unfortunately it's that freedom of religion that causes authorities to tread lightly in cases like this where in the past abused was hinted at but never confirmed.

[Oldfart]

It's amazing what can be done in the name of religion, and gotten away with.

There are a really nice set of buddhas is Afghanistan, oops, sorry, they got religionated.

[jseal]

It's amazing what can be done in the name of religion, and gotten away with ...
Too true! Faith in the presumed truth of things which cannot be proved is very powerful - sometimes overwhelming.

[Oldfart]

Yes.

If something is unable to be disproven, why, it's got to be true.

[jseal]

... I fear they may not have a case if they did not follow protocol. Hopefully they have been very careful ...
The FBI seems to have learned their lesson following Waco & Ruby Ridge. I think their agents handled the Montana Freemen standoff without incident.

[Lilith]

Yes but this was not the FBI. This was Texas DCFS peeps if I have heard and read correctly.

[jseal]

... they may also have learned from the PR debacles of Waco & Ruby Ridge.

[Lilith]

Let's hope.

[Rhiannon]

it a sect of the mormon church that they don't allow any more.

There are some people that believe in many more wives, personally i am not going to stand for that i would have to kill my spouse. hehehe.

From what is coming across the news he kept everything from these people.
no internet. now that is abuse. :) and no music even laughter was forbidden

The one thing that is good is the head honcho was convicted on charges.

[jseal]

... the head honcho was convicted on charges.
A step in the right direction.

[maddy]

It is local authorities that have been acting on this case... its of somewhat local interest (as local as you get in a state of this size!) and I've been reading with awe at how this happens... I've added the woman who left this sect's book to my future reading list. She was on Today I believe and I read the article this afternoon, very interesting!

[wyndhy]

Yes.

If something is unable to be disproven, why, it's got to be true.
don't believe everything you think:D


400+ kids needing guardians and representation now. :( poor babies.

[rabbit]

There are places in America that are NOT mainstream, that consistently shock me of their existence.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/04/08/america/texas.php

What do you think about 400 children and over 100 women who "escaped" with authorities from the polygamist camp? Are you at all surprised that places like this exist in the US?

The thing I wonder is...How did this system go on for so long? There are 2nd and 3rd generation families in the compound!

It's a sad, sad thing that such a vile and horrible thing could go on without anyone in law enforcement having the balls to stop it.

disgusting....

[Lilith]

When they say guardians they are referring to Guardian Ad Litems most likely not physical guardians. Because they have not seperated the mothers from the children I think there will be less dependency issues and more criminal issues. I anticipate the mothers to keep their children and be offerred services to assist them in building new lives while the fathers and elders who are incriminated in the crimes against children will be prosecuted.

[Oldfart]

I saw a woman going overboard on "no-one's going to tell me how to worship or how not to." Damned hard call, where does the right of worship stop. I'll believe it when they stop the Jews from circumcising.

[wyndhy]

i read that the state took legal custody and the kids will be appointed lawyers and legal guardians in about two weeks.

[Jax]

You know, I've been giving this a lot of thought. In particular the "why in America" part. And I think that the point about the UK being geographically smaller - thus eliminating some opportunity - probably has some truth to it.

There are many parts of the US that are rural and folks can be left alone. Strange things can happen.

[jseal]

I agree. One of the consequences of the continuing reduction in size and extent of personal privacy in this digitized information age is the death of distance. I expect that the loss of anonymity needed by marginal sects of this type will expose them more frequently that in the past, when sheer distance – and Texas has a lot of that - was sufficient to keep the world (and the intrusion of officialdom) at a safe distance.

[Oldfart]

They'll move to Montana?

[wyndhy]

the state is screwing this up. it's not going to end well, i can feel it.

[Oldfart]

Maybe they'll build a ship to sail to England in search of religious freedom.

[scotzoidman]

Excuse me, that ^^^ post is dripping Irony all over me ;)

[Oldfart]

Isn't irony ironic?

[Lilith]

wyndhy- that was my fear from the get go. I am familiar with the dependency system in my state and could see that they probably did not have enough proof to take them all into custody. The only way I can see this case working out now is if they order DNA tests for every single person living on the ranch and even then because some of these men have probably had children with their own kids the DNA results will be difficult to decipher. If I heard right this all may have started with just 13 families.

[jseal]

DNA tests on Texas sect children (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7355779.stm)

[Lilith]

While I see that the children have to take the tests I am wondering if they will court order the adults to.

[jseal]

While I see that the children have to take the tests I am wondering if they will court order the adults to.
“Seek And Ye Shall Find (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/18/national/main4027694.shtml)” says the Good Book.

State District Judge Barbara Walther ordered that all children and parents be given genetic testing.

[Oldfart]

If nothing else it will teach much about the reinforced genetic map.

[jseal]

Imposed from On High?